17 Mart 2011 Perşembe

Loft Conversions – Are They Worth It?

Moving to a new home just to gain an additional room is something that many people do but a well designed and constructed loft conversion can be a really good alternative. In an area like London where the housing market is constantly changing, it can be a big risk to move house just to gain an extra room and it could turn out that you end up losing a lot of money. (With the additional costs of stamp duty, increased mortgages, conveyencing fees and paying removal companies it can really be expensive|Not forgetting all of the usual moving costs such as a bigger mortgage, stamp duty, normal removal expenses and solicitors fees it can really mount up|Then there are the costs which are always associated with moving home such as removals, the cost of hiring a solicitor, higher mortgage payments and stamp duty}.

So if you need that extra room what do you do? A loft conversion is a very good idea as it will meet your requirements for that other room and it will add value to your precious home. In a recent survey conducted by the Alliance and Leicester building society it was revealed that a professional loft conversion can add as much as £40,000 to the value of your house.This also means of course that you don’t have to move house and you can save a considerable amount.

A change in the planning laws in 2008 has seen a real surge in loft conversions. The law changed to “permitted development” when it comes to loft conversions which means that most conversions will not require local government planning permission. This should not be confused with building regulations as these still need to be adhered to as the conversion will be used for additional living space.

It is natural to consider the price as a high priority when deciding upon loft conversion estimates. It is not wise just to accept the lowest estimate because if the conversion is planned and constructed poorly then the value of your house could actually fall. Don’t accept any proposal with a temporary staircase as this will add little value in the eyes of your local estate agent. It is well worth paying more now for a totally professional job as you will reap the rewards of significantly increased value in the future.

What are the advantages of a loft conversion over a traditional home extension? There are lots of advantages. Whatever kind of house that you own it is very likely that it will be suitable for a loft conversion. The cost of a loft conversion is also likely to be a lot less than a home extension would be and there is no need to lose valuable outdoor space as well. Most home extensions will require planning permission which can take months whereas a loft conversion will probably not. The design, planning and construction time for a loft conversion should be considerably less than a traditional home extension would take .

You can go a step further with your loft conversion and help the environment by installing solar panels to generate electricity, heat your water or both. This will also decrease your fuel bills too. If you choose the solar panel route to generate electricity then you will be eligible for incentives from the government for this and water incentives are also planned.

The cost of your loft conversion will depend on a number of factors such as the size of your loft, structural requirements, whether existing water tanks need to be moved or replaced, floor structure requirements and so on. Overall it should prove to be a sound investment.

There are many advantages to choosing a loft conversion if a quality solution is sought. To find out more about quality loft conversions visit this link loft conversions London.